New solar cell material achieves almost 100% efficiency, could solve world-wide energy problems

reply to post by Manawydan
[I've read about this yesterday on google news, or was it two days ago? Well anyways, I remember the article, at the very bottom, stating that the entire research was funded solely by the US military.]

then you said it would be a while before we see this technology in the public realm...

This is sad, because who pays for the military? The people do.

We are literally paying other people to kill us!

You also need to pay attention to this portion of the article:

"The materials these researchers have created is not ready for prime time. ONLY A FEW MOLECULES WERE CREATED through a joint effort of the Ohio State University team and a team of chemists from the National Taiwan University. They synthesized enough of the material to carry out PRELIMINARY tests."

Also, no mention is made of production costs. What if it turns out that it would cost $500,000 to produce a square meter of this material?

Sounds promising, but don't yet jump on the bandwagon.

[edit on 21-10-2008 by astron1000]

[edit on 21-10-2008 by astron1000]

Originally posted by gormly
reply to post by die_another_day

 

Researchers at Ohio State University I repeat... Researchers at Ohio State University

this is not some garage invention people where the "inventor" can get "knocked off" by the evil corporate asasins...

It will not get "gobbled up" by some Big Oil boogey man.
If it is real, feasable and doable, it will be done. The research is already out there.

If a breakthrough in anything happens, where would you rather it happen.. in some guys garage, at Darpa or a educational intitution like OSU ?

I think you know the answer...

So stop with all the doom talk ok?
This is a POSTIVE thing, for once can't you people be pleased by something for just one frigin day?

At last. Someone who speaks a lot more sense than the average ATS cheerleader.

Star for you.

Originally posted by die_another_day


Wow, I've been waiting for this for such a long time. This is a dream come true. If we can spread this technology for cheap so that everyone can use it, then we can finally stop wasting fuel and money.

I hear you and it would be a most wonderful thing. But what makes you think the government would ever make such a thing available cheaply.

Ever heard of a guy named Nikola Tesla.

en.wikipedia.org...

Please check his work out.
Heres some info and a youtube link. It'll show you how government and the private sector has suppressed just such knowledge and ideas in the past

www.youtube.com...

www.youtube.com...

www.youtube.com...

www.youtube.com...

Sorry this is impressive, but not as much as you think... and i will explain

firstly, these attain almost 100% efficiency in the VISIBLE spectrum of light, to compete with coal they need to be at least 80% efficient over the entire spectrum of light. that is considering these will cost the same as silicon panels. the cheaper they are the less efficient they will have to be, also it wont eliminate your electric bill. why? you ask, THE ECONOMY! if everyone had a cheap reliable power plant on there house, energy companies would fail, if they fail, the economy fails, now depending on the cost of this new material it could reduce are foreign dependence on energy this is good for our economy bad for the middle east.also it would be better for the environment by reducing carbon emissions. so, if the can compete with oil and coal in cost efficiency then great the energy companies will buy them and it will drop our bills alot improve the economy and everyone is happy. but don't think everyone is going to have these on there houses and not pay any bills, because that would put us into a depression, and thee economy is already in a tipping enough.

Wow, this is truly an amazing discovery, and everyone should do their best to stay on top of its development. Its a shame, but i am quite certain that with technology like this, and the practical application that it has to change the future of the world, its only a matter of time before the patents are bought out by a major oil company never to be seen again.

Originally posted by spacebagel


Give me evidence that these kind of suppressions have happened in the past.

Give me proof that the technology that was 'bought' really worked and could replace entirely existing technologies.

As cliche as it may be, the EV-1 for example. The car was affordable, quick, practical, and pretty stylish IMO. GM bought every last one, and sold the cars to oil companies who promptly eradicated the technology.
Its not a matter of conspiracy, its business. Companies simply buying out the competition is something we see every day.

Originally posted by nikmti
Its not a matter of conspiracy, its business. Companies simply buying out the competition is something we see every day.

You are right on the mark, a center hit! It is just business and it being right or wrong doesn't seem to factor in to the equation.

If I am selling something and it makes me a lot of money, I want to protect that income. If some else comes up with a way to improve what I am selling and it threatens to eliminate my income, I'll perhaps buy that new thing and shelf it until such time as I need to switch to selling it.

This template of business practice is common and legal and not likely to change anytime soon. It is used in manufacturing, utilities, energy, etc.

As far as this new solar panel material, I am suspicious because it parallels a recent TV broadcast on NOVA, a speculative work of fiction. Plus that I haven’t seen this story reported by a credible news source and something as world changing as this would be worthy of headlines around the globe.

Tesla, someone had to mention Tesla, research Tesla from credible sources instead of guessing. He was a reputable scientist, made many great advancements and he was considered far ahead of his time. Tesla was more of an idealist about his discoveries and inventions and repeatedly stated that he wanted to advance mankind instead of being motivated by profit, consequently he often ran out of financing. He gave his work to the world instead of selling it which made it difficult to get financed as any interested investor simply wanted to make big profits. Tesla theorized that everything had a frequency and proved it. Tesla invented the AC generator and by all rights should have kept a patent on it and all AC devices, but he didn’t, thus proving he had a poor business sense. Tesla is also accredited with the basics of radio broadcast and the debate of whether Marconi or Tesla deserve rights of claim to actual broadcast technology still exist today. Tesla successfully developed wireless energy transmission. To suggest that Tesla was a hack or a "junk" scientist is just not accurate.

Just my humble opinions.

I think if Ty Pennington broke down and used some solar-panels of any sort on extreme home makeover, everyone would start using them.
Can you imagine a solar panel on every roof in America?

Originally posted by president
I think if Ty Pennington broke down and used some solar-panels of any sort on extreme home makeover, everyone would start using them.
Can you imagine a solar panel on every roof in America?

They HAVE used solar panels...
and Ty.. doesn't have that much influence anyway.

Originally posted by die_another_day
Researchers at Ohio State University have accidentally discovered

Call me a kook, I really don't care, but I wonder how many things really are discovered by 'accident'. Sure some would be, but who knows...

It would probably take a few well placed words of suggestion to steer a new discovery. How else would a higher intelligence remain hidden from view?

reply to post by astron1000


what if it gets to where gas costs 500,000 USD a barrel? i bet some would come out of the wood works and STILL dis solar.

all you need to do is recreate the chemistry that starts the bond. let them test, so they can figure out an easy way to mass produce it. if we stop talking about it then the public wont ever know. the scientists will continue to work on this, and less funding just means it will take longer.

IF OIL BARONS HAD ANY INTELLIGENCE, THEY WOULD HAVE A TEAM OF ALTERNATE ENERGY SPECIALISTS ALREADY WORKING FOR THEM SO THEIR REVENUE STREAM DOESN'T DRY UP ONCE THEIR OIL IS GONE.

adaptation is key for any business man.

Yes, it is only nearly 100% of the visible light spectrum. Which is still better than what we have now.

Also sooner or later, it doesn't matter how much money you have. There will be no gasoline to buy.

I also believe that this technology should be adapted to transportation due to the diminishing supply of oil. If this is too expensive for the average consumer. Then maybe we should use this for mass transit systems instead. Planes, trains, buses, and ships.

Remember how computers started? Everything was so complex and expensive at first. But then the technology was vastly improved. The same thing will happen to this. Hey, we might even be able to absorb non-visible light if we do enough research.

Solar power is the future because it's abundant and organic fuel is running out or scarce.

reply to post by die_another_day


I just mentioned that on this thread. A child has come out with a new solar panel that captures and converts non visible light. Popular Mechanics.

Black Silicon

www.hno.harvard.edu...

Firstly the theoretical potential of almost 100% efficiency of visible light would mean the surface would appear completely black. Second, to perform a chemical process (including knocking electrons out of there state) you need to suuply more energy then what you will get out, This is chemistry 101. 50%, 60% maybe, but never 100%.

Thirdly To Spikey mentioning the 2 mile tunnels under the Earth, ever heard of overlay problems... You honestly believe that 2 mile tunnels exist under the earth because... Google Earth? Show me proof of these on multiple maps that do not use Google Earth and I might, might consider it further.

Come on guys, you're meant to deny ignorance!!

Good news, but sad that it has plastic as an ingredient. Plastic is made from oil...


[edit on 25-10-2008 by Copernicus]

Originally posted by blackcube
Black Silicon

www.hno.harvard.edu...

Ut, oh, looks like someone has leaked out the big secret in search of solar panels, now everyone will have a stealth fighter, stealth boats, stealth car. But at least we can get some solar power out of this trade off.

reply to post by Anonymous ATS



XD. That's physics I think.


Man I just found out that the world's supply of Molybdenum is actually going to run out around 2020.

It also costs $65000/tonne.

[wikipedia]

Careful----emerging tech.
The theory and applications seem to be correct---though not as posted---it will be able to convert from UV to IR--100% of visible light, but not 100% of all visible light is converted into energy. The conversion loss still remains.
But it is great news, never the less.
More of the spectrum is available than the narrow range previously attained.